0.8 oz. Finally, a published letter made reference to a particularly despicable opinion Hamilton had expressed about Burr. Instead of firing into the sky or the ground, aiming for a near miss would show seriousness and would appear to any witnesses to have been a legitimate attempt but avoid taking a life. Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel. Taking deliberate aim, was considered vicious and discouraged. The Duke did not return fire. But you had never gained so great a name, In England had your pistols killed as few." (6.7 cm); W. 17 1/2 in. He went on to become one of the most infamous traitors in American history for conspiring to steal by force territory acquired for the United States by Thomas Jefferson as well as land in Mexico to create his own western empire. The 9 5/8"" octagon 64 caliber swamped smooth bore barrel has a fair bore with pitting. 0.00. Robert Wogdon (1734-1813) is arguably the best known and most respected maker of flintlock dueling pistols. Hamilton did not elaborate but indicated his remarks were political, not personal, which would imply that Burrs honor had not been drawn into question. Contrary to popular belief, duelling pistols were made as a cased pair, not to provide a weapon for each adversary but rather so each adversary could have a second pistol if a second shot was required. (41 cm); L. of barrel 11 15/16 in. Tools for metal. Mortimer, and many other talented English gunmakers certainly manufactured incredibly fine dueling pistols and helped create new innovations in their designs over time, but Wogdon truly specialized in them. (44.5 cm); D. 6 3/4 in. Dueling as a way to protect one's reputation has long faded from acceptable behavior, but these paired and cased dueling pistols for sale in Rock Island Auction Company's Aug. 26-28 Premier Auction are a fascinating way to recall a different time and a different way of personal conduct. Original Tools. A discussion of the poem in "The Critical Review; or, Annals of Literature" from 1782 notes, "The artist to whom these stanzas are inscribed is famous for his skill in making pistols, whose aim is remarkably true" and notes the lines "No one can tell how short he shall remain, If honour calls and Wogdon bids him die" as among the best in the poem. His Royal Highness replied he should say nothing, after which all parties left the ground. Gunmaker at Mr. Maws haberdashers, Cockspur St., Charing Cross, 1764. The usual duelling distance of 12 paces was measured out and it was agreed that both parties would fire at the given signal. However, for at least twenty years before the BurrHamilton duel, English duelling pistols by all the top makers had been customarily fitted with set triggers. Pistol dueling was an associate (non-medal) event at the 1906 and 1908 Olympic games (see Olympic dueling). Gunmakers to Bow St. Police, 1801-3. Robert Wogdon made many and varied firearms pocket and livery pistols, double-barrelled pistols, sporting guns and rifles, carbines and blunderbusses but he was most renowned for his duelling pistols. Philip was mortally wounded, and died in agony the following day. Had Lennox refused to challenge the Duke, his reputation as an officer and a gentleman would have been irrevocably compromised. Until the mid-18th century, duels were typically fought with swords. Look at any Wogdon duelling pistol, be it one from his early production years in the mid-1770s or one made towards the end of his career when in partnership with John Barton in the early 1800s, and they all have that unmistakable Wogdon style. Wogdon & Barton (founded by Robert Wogdon) was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. Perhaps the most bizarre duel in which Wogdon pistols were used took place on 13 January 1777 between the Reverend Henry Bate and Andrew Robinson Stoney. He was dead within thirty-six hours. The Burr and Hamilton Duel at Weehawken, New Jersey, July 11, 1804 Click Photo to Enlarge Guns International #: 101363115 Seller's Inventory #: 190413 Category Antique Pistols - Flintlock Handguns - European Pistols Seller's Information As the challenged party, Hamilton selected Churchs pistols as the weapons. More has been written about this duel than any other in American history. He was, at his death, described by his long-term friend, surgeon Jesse Foot, who had attended his duelling injuries 33 years earlier, as a villain to the backbone cowardly, insidious, hypocritical, tyrannic, mean, violent, selfish, jealous, revengeful, inhuman and savage without a counterveiling quality. Prince William Frederick, Second Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh (1803d. Look at any Wogdon duelling pistol, be it one from his early production years in the mid-1770s or one made towards the end of his career when in partnership with John Barton in the early 1800s, and they all have that unmistakable Wogdon style. Stoney was to make Marys life a nightmare, subjecting her and her children to eight years of continuing physical and mental abuse, including threats of rape and murder. All the shooter has to do to set the trigger is press it forward, something readily found in examination by anyone knowledgeable with dueling pistols, and a feature I would expect the seconds to explain if one or both duelists was inexperienced. To order, please call 01666 502200 or email: subscriptions@bonhams.com, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, Luxury stationery: a wonderfully sensuous experience. We offer a wide selection of firearms, including: handguns, shotguns, rifles, ammunition, rifle scopes and optics, as well as collectible machine guns and other NFA/Class 3 guns. Guns International #: 102054289 Seller's Inventory #: AH6306. Duelling pistols are often single-shot flintlock or percussion black-powder pistols which fire a lead ball. 0.8 oz. In some duels, the pistols were carefully and identically loaded, and each duellist was offered his choice of the indistinguishable loaded pistols. With John Barton, traded Wogdon & Barton from 1795, succeeded by Barton, 1803. With John Barton traded as Wogdon & Barton, from 1795, succeeded by Barton, 1803. Impact Guns is the gun shop for all your shooting needs. He died the following day. Tools for wood. 1.3 oz. Of course if you could hit your opponent first, you might not have to be fired upon at all. If either party was injured at all, the seconds were generally expected to work to declare the duel was over. Wogdon's duelling pistols were fitted with set triggers as a standard feature, so they cannot be regarded as "secret" devices that other duellists of the era would be completely unaware of. Spring Steel. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Special care was taken when moulding the lead bullets to ensure that there were no voids which would affect accuracy. Wogdon & Barton dueling pistols Wogdon & Barton (founded by Robert Wogdon) was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. Robert Wogdon and John Barton operated at 14 Haymarket, London, from 1795 to 1803. Not all fine, antique pairs of pistols are duelling pistols, though they may be called so. The brown damascus style finish is . This dueling flintlock pistol is by Robert Wogdon (1733-1813), a well-known London gunsmith from Lincolnshire who operated at Haymarket, London, from 1774 to 1802. Wogdon was partnered with John Barton at 14 Haymarket Street in London in 1795-1803. (10 cm); Wt. This dueling flintlock pistol is by Robert Wogdon (1733-1813), a well-known London gunsmith from Lincolnshire who operated at Haymarket, London, from 1774 to 1802. The best hunting horse. (10.5 cm); Wt. 7626 Westheimer @ Voss, Houston, Texas 77063. The barrels on earlier guns were cylindrical, while later ones tended to be octagonal. It has a dovetailed blade front sight, "Wogdon & Barton London" in script on top of the barrel, a gold vent liner, notch rear sight on top of the breech, "Wogdon & Barton" on the . Whatever the eventual outcome, it was the expected duty of both the parties seconds to record faithfully all details of the duel, from the original insult, the issuing of the challenge to the eventual outcome. His pistols had now reached a level of perfect proportions and balance, and had a simple elegance that could hardly be improved. However, it was acceptable for duels to be fought with different pistols and for each duellist to use their own pair, so they could use weapons they were familiar with. Derringer Handguns For Sale :: Guns.com 2/18/2023 Although best suited for military use, they were often owned by civilians. A Continental Pin Fire Revolver. [12], Late model English duelling pistols fired by percussion cap, bearing the Royal Warrant on the case, Earlier English flintlock duelling pistols made by Wogdon & Barton, used in the fatal Burr-Hamilton duel of 1804. The overall length of this pair of flintlock dueling pistols is approx. Remarkable design and engineering continues to mark out the British gun trade. 1 lb. After he forcibly abducted Mary to the north of England, a warrant was issued for Stoney Bowes arrest. 1 lb. More Info. Again, the affair began with politics. 12.9 oz. The refinished stock is also very good and has some dings and worn spots in the otherwise distinct checkering, some faint hairline cracks and repairs in the forend, hammering marks on the butt, and general dings and scratches throughout. More Info. He then fled to Europe where he continued to conspire to steal land in the West. SCHEELS Robert Wogdon (1734-1813) is arguably the best known and most respected maker of flintlock dueling pistols. Other Materials. Her promiscuous behaviour was well known and a series of anonymous, scurrilous articles with barely veiled references to her appeared in Reverend Bates Morning Post. The duel took place at exactly the same place where Philips father was to meet Aaron Burr three years later. .38 in. 19th September 2018. The Duke of York had publicly insulted him and had virtually accused him of cowardice. He carried on his business in Haymarket from 1774 until his retirement in 1802. One of the most common varieties was having a set number of paces walked off and the positions marked in advance. Hamilton had opposed Burrs political campaigns since the 1790s, and letters were published indicating Hamilton at a dinner expressed his opposition to Burr politically, called him a dangerous man, and held a still more despicable opinion of Burr. A Rare Pair Of 40-Bore Flintlock Overcoat Or Travelling PistolsBy Wogdon & Barton Of London, Circa 1800. Cobra Derringers are beautifully handcrafted with a wide range of calibers and barrel lengths that provides versatile and reliable service for a lifetime. Lot 231: Cased pair of H. Bales flintlock dueling pistols. One of a pair of silver-mounted duelling pistols, the earliest Wogdon set with silver by Michael Barnett, registered on 29 June 1781. 0.00. When his second wife divorced him in 1834, Alexander Hamilton Jr. served as her lawyer. 0.5 oz. Patron of that Leaden death!" Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr. Research suggests the attribution is spurious, though the quality is superb. Wood for Gunsmithing and restoration. When Charles Lee and John Laurens dueled during the American Revolution, they each brought a pair. However, in some duels where the parties truly despised one another and the insults had been particularly serious, the adversaries agreed to duel until one of them was too injured to go on or killed. The barrels are marked Wogdon & Barton London in script on the top flat. Their "saw handle" stocks are one of just many designs English gunmakers experimented with in their efforts to create deadly accurate dueling pistols. The overall length is approx. Robert Wogdon (January 1734 - 28 March 1813) died aged 79 and was buried with his wife Jane (died 15 February 1805, aged 69) in the chancel of St Bartholomew's Church, located on the outskirts of Buntingford, Hertfordshire. There were also varieties of barrier duels in which the duelist started a set number of paces apart with a barrier in the center. This could certainly be a risky proposition if you didnt get to shoot first. [6], Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh. Lock plates engraved Wogdon & Barton, having push-on half-cock safeties, semi-rain proof pans, and roller frizzen springs (one spring repaired). Standard flintlock pistols can have a noticeable delay between pulling the trigger and actually firing the bullet unless precisely tuned. The refinished stock is good and has some dings and worn spots in the otherwise distinct checkering, crack between the ramrod entry pipe and trigger guard finial, repair above the nose of the lock, and some scattered minor dings and scratches. (6.7 cm); W. 17 1/2 in. When a duel was fought with a single pair of pistols it was because neither duellist owned their own and the pistols were supplied by a third party. SOLD. The doctors concluded that Stoneys injuries might well prove fatal. (3.8 cm); Wt. Estimated at $7,500-$12,000, these dueling pistols are beautiful, rare, and historically significant. Churchs pair supposedly had concealed set triggers, but in reality, set triggers were a standard feature of these pistols rather than a secret designed to give one duelist an advantage over the other, and that pair simply did not have a visible adjustment screw. Alternatively, the duelists might exchange shots in turn instead of firing at the same time as was the case in the Laurens-Grimk duel in 1775. Mechanically fine. As John Norris writes in Pistols at Dawn: A History of Duelling, Wogdons name has unarguably become more closely associated with dueling pistols than any other gunsmith of the period, and has come to epitomize these specialized firearms. Robert Wogdon produced flintlock firearms from the 1760s, and was particularly well known for his high quality duelling pistols. [7], The most famous and innovative manufacturers were London-based companies such as Wogdon & Barton, Durs Egg, Manton, Mortimer, Nock, and Purdey. Lennox replied that he could not consider His Royal Highness as any other than the son of his King. The barrels have a decorative band around the breech end. The guns had several special features, including heavy brass forends for steadier aim and both front and rear sights for a more accurate shot. For this reason, very few duels can now be confidently identified as those in which Wogdon pistols were used. British, London, Medium: Copyright 2023 All rights reserved. The 9 5/8"" octagon 64 caliber swamped smooth bore barrel has a fair bore with pitting. (39.4 cm); Wt. (10.5 cm); Wt. In addition to the renown quality of his pistols in his own time, Wogdon is arguably the most recognized maker of dueling pistols known today because of the pair used in the famous duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr that ended with Hamilton fatally wounded. Colonel Lennox would have faced a real dilemma over this incident. Reliability was important because if a duellist's pistol failed to fire, he was considered to have taken his shot and was not permitted to re-cock the pistol and try shooting again. These shots were fired at 25 yards with rapid dueling style aim rather than carefully deliberate aim. The stock on gun 2 is fine with no cracks or chips and the dents and dings expected of light to moderate use. A PAIR OF ENGLISH FLINTLOCK DUELING PISTOLS by Wogdon & Barton, London The sighted browned octagonal twist steel barrels engraved Wogdon & Barton London, the touch-holes lined in gold with hooked breeches and engraved tangs.Set triggers. [5] These gave the person using them an advantage over their opponent by reducing the amount of finger pressure required to fire the pistol, which greatly increased accuracy of the shot. Gunsmith Robert Wogdon British https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/29592. New York. [1] The name Wogdon became synonymous with dueling, to the extent that duels in England were sometimes referred to as "a Wogdon affair". The next day it was Hamiltons turn to face Eacker at ten paces. Two loud bangs followed by the unmistakable sound of clashing swords were heard and, with the help of waiters, the door was forced open. This is famously represented in the book and film The Last Duel. The poem alludes to fate but suggests a duelists destiny lay in Wogdons hand. [3], Duelling pistols had long barrels - typically around 10in (250mm) and fired large, heavy bullets. You can safely challenge a friend to a duel with muzzleloading pistols today by using modern dueling targets that leave only bragging rights on the line. 0.00. Then Eacker raised his pistol and shot Hamilton above the hip. Price: 28,500 Maker: Robert Wogdon Date: circa 1780 Each Pistol with 10 inch browned swamped octagonal barrel signed along the top flat, engraved with a transverse band of beadwork at the rear of the breech and with silver fore sight, case-hardened foliate engraved tang decorated with a band of beadwork in front of the rear sight . 3 lb. The answer to the question frequently asked of the owners of Wogdon duelling pistols, Were these pistols ever used in a duel? must unfortunately therefore be, We just dont know.. 15"". His father told him to fire to miss, known as deloping, rather than take a mans life. Carried to his Manhattan home, Hamilton lingered in agony, the pistol ball lodged next to his spine. It is now half-stocked with a silver fore-end and a rounded, chequered butt with spurred trigger-guard. 15". Wogdon retired in 1803 and died in 1813. 1.5 oz. In Britain, the favoured type was for the duellists to stand still at an agreed distance and shoot when given the signal. Stoneys dying wish was that Mary would marry him. The pistols have smoothbore Damascus barrels with gold vent liners, dovetailed silver blade front sights, "Wogdon & Barton London" signed on top, registration markings for County Down in Ireland, engraved borders at the breech, and casehardened standing breeches with fixed notch rear sights and engraving. While other well-known English gunmakers such as Joseph Manton manufactured fine dueling pistols, Wogdon specialized in them. Thus, firing too early might make you more likely to miss and have to risk being shot at from a shorter range. The various component parts of these firearms were individually produced under the direction of a master gunmaker by highly specialized craftsmen, including a lock smith, barrel forger, stocker, and engraver. E ach pistol with 10 inch rebrowned sighted octagonal barrel inscribed 'Wogdon & Barton London' on the top flat, gold lined touch hole, foliate engraved tang incorporating the rear sight, flat bevel edged signed lock with stepped tail and sliding safety, set trigger, figured walnut full stock, swelling flat sided butt, engraved iron furniture 14.75"". From about 1790 firearms were generally fitted with mahogany cases, whose interiors were lined with green baize (woolen cloth) and subdivided into discrete compartments for the weapon, tools, and accessories. There was not just a single form for a proper duel. The pistols used in this duel are believed to have been the Wogdon & Barton pistols owned by John Barker Church, Alexander Hamiltons brother-in-law. WOGDON & BARTON. Hamilton received a .54-caliber wound to the abdomen from an English-made Wogdon & Barton flintlock smoothbore dueling pistol. Forging damascus steel barrels the rarest of skills, The Fields bucket list for a sporting year, Seasons greetings a love letter to postage stamps. Design [ edit] Initially, both men refused to fire. An eagle is engraved on the headband. .36 in (9.3 mm); Wt. Very good with more than half of the period refurbished brown, distinct Damascus patterns, and bright gold vent on the barrel; mix of brown and mottled silver-gray patina on the lock, gray and brown patina on the iron furniture, dark aged patina on the silver, mild oxidation/pitting, and generally mild wear overall. These were break action, single-shot weapons that were fitted with a shield in front of the trigger, to protect the hand holding the pistol. The 9 5/8" octagon 64 caliber swamped smooth bore barrel has a fair bore . The overall length is approx. Collecting, preserving, researching, publishing, and exhibiting distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. RM W570AE - Case with Dueling Pistols A Cased Pair of Pistols, Reputedly Owned by Napoleon Pair of pistols Cassette with couple of pistols and accessories belonging to Napoleon I, Casket in which a couple of pistols together with all supplies. Churchs dueling pistols were originally similar to the Wogdon & Barton pair in our next auction but at some point had brass forends fitted to them. They have small blade front and fixed notch rear sights. Like that pair, these pistols have "concealed" single set triggers, a standard feature of their pistols rather than a secret designed to give one duelist an advantage over the other. These types are similar to duelling pistols in that they were muzzle-loading weapons that were sometimes expensively made and sold in matched, cased pairs with a set of accessories. The actions on both pistols function correctly. Generally, if both duelists fired without effect, the challenger could declare himself satisfied or demand another exchange. [Note 3], Most English pistols had smooth bores, though some had scratch rifling, a subtle form of rifling which was difficult to see with the naked eye. The Mantons, Griffin & Tow, H.W. Engraved in gold on the barrel: ARGer DE L'EMPEREUR. During his lifetime Wogdons pistols were considered to be of unsurpassed quality and reliability, to the point that they were even sold to clients in North America. Wogdon apprenticed to Edward Newton in 1748, according to Howard Blackmore in Gunmakers of London, 1350-1850. After he finished his apprenticeship, he ran his own shop and then partnered with John Barton in 1795 and retired in 1803. Wogdon made the pistols used in the infamous BurrHamilton duel, which were later claimed to have concealed "hair triggers" (also known as set triggers). The ultimate pocket pistol, derringer handguns are lightweight, compact, and can easily be tucked away in a pocket or purse. As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes. Two discarded Wogdon pistols were discovered. (1219 g); powder flask (b): H. 4 1/8 in. Collectors Firearms, LLC. Colonel Lennox and the Duke, accompanied by their seconds, met on Wimbledon Common on the morning of 26 May. A Duelling Pistol by Edwards of Dublin. The poem later references him again and notes, "This death we lay not, Wogdon to thy blame; Cullum must have his fame as well as you. A pair of duels in the early 19th century in America have done much to fix Wogdons name in American memory. Hamiltons pistol went off and struck the ground. A Rifled Pocket Pistol by Smith. Given the large number of cased pairs of his duelling pistols that have survived to this day, his production was significant. The sliding-safety locks are marked in script "Wogdon" over "&" over "Barton". This resulted in the death of a Member of Parliament, An account of an 1825 duel in Paris between two Irishmen states that one brought his pair of English, "Pair of Flintlock Duelling Pistols ca. Each pistol with 10 inch rebrowned sighted octagonal barrel inscribed Wogdon & Barton London on the top flat, gold lined touch hole, foliate engraved tang incorporating the rear sight, flat bevel edged signed lock with stepped tail and sliding safety, set trigger, figured walnut full stock, swelling flat sided butt, engraved iron furniture including trigger guard with pineapple finial, horn tipped ramrod; contained in their original baize lined mahogany case with accessories including a leather bodied flask, flint wallet and cleaning rod, the exterior with recessed brass carrying handle. Often if one duelist had not fired around the same time, they would not even return fire unless they were seriously at odds with their opponent. 7 oz. Mortimer, and many other talented English gunmakers certainly manufactured incredibly fine dueling pistols and helped create new innovations in their designs over time, but Wogdon truly specialized in them. There are currently no customer product questions on this lot. The 10"" swamped at the muzzle octagon 67 caliber smooth bore barrels have good bores with light roughness. [3][4] Wogdon formed a partnership in 1794 with John Barton, after which their pistols were signed Wogdon and Barton. [3][4] Wogdon formed a partnership in 1794 with John Barton, after which their pistols were signed Wogdon and Barton. One Theophilus Swift was to write a pamphlet on the affair, taking the Dukes side. The Critical Review; or, Annals of Literature, hot air balloons with blunderbusses over Paris, Duke of York was challenged by his nephew Charles Lennox. A Scarce Double Barrel Pocket Pistol . The whereabouts of the second Wogdon pistol are unknown. Burr was unharmed but stood in shock before being rushed away from the scene as was customary. His pistols were so well known that "Stanzas on Duelling Inscribed to Wogdon, the Celebrated Pistol-Maker" from 1782 starts with the lines "Hail Wogdon! Whether Lennox had used his Wogdons in his duel with Swift is not known. Wogdon had apprenticed to the Irish gunmaker Edward Norton in Lincolnshire. Robert Wogdon, a gunmaker most famous for his dueling pistols, partnered with John Barton late in his career. Four years later, in 1808, Burr met Jeremy Bentham, the noted English philosopher, and Bentham claimed to have been certain of his (Burrs) ability to kill Hamilton. Cobra Firearms is a firearm and accessory manufacturer located in Salt Lake City, UT specializing in American made derringers and handguns that are unique. Mary Eleanor Bowes was the richest heiress in England at that time. Undoubtedly the most famous duel with Wogdon pistols, and certainly the most famous pistol duel in the United States, took place on 11 July 1804 at Weehawken, New Jersey, between the former Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, and the sitting Vice-President of the United States, Aaron Burr.